Winter 2010 - Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society

Winter 2010
A Publication of the Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society
Airboaters Choose Their Own Fate
Hydrilla Management in the
Upper Ocklawaha River Basin
Water Hyacinth Bio-Control
Released in the St. Johns River
Winter 2010
Aquatics | 1
“One of our biggest fears is the Applied Biochemists Algal Challenge Test.”
Choose Your
Best Defense
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Ph: (800)-558-5106
www.appliedbiochemists.com
2011 Board of Directors
Officers
President
Vernon Vandiver
9715 NW 63rd Lane, Gainesville, FL 32653-6808
954-683-1764, 352-336-4240 fax
[email protected]
WINTER 2010
A Publication of the Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society
President-Elect
Jerry Renney
Applied Aquatic Management
P.O. Box 1469, Eagle Lake, FL 33839-1469
863-533-8882, 863-534-3322 fax, [email protected]
Past President
Mike Bodle, SFWMD
561-248-4032, [email protected]
Secretary
Stephanie Walters
Winfield Solutions
2601 W. Orange Blossom Tr, Apopka, FL 32712
407-466-8360, 407-884-0111 fax
Treasurer
Jennifer Myers
Applied Aquatic Management, Inc.
P.O. Box 1469, Eagle Lake, FL 33839-1469
863-533-8882, 863-534-3322 fax
[email protected]
Editor
Tina Bond
Red River Specialties, Inc.
P.O. Box 1454, Davenport, FL 33836
407-808-2035, 318-226-6187 fax, [email protected]
Associate Editor
Karen Brown
UF-IFAS Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants
7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32653
352-273-3667, [email protected]
Cover Photograph: by Tina M. Bond Airboat trail through Lake Tohopekaliga,
Osceola County, FL.
Remembering
Andy Price, page 12
Water Hyacinth Bio-Control,
page 13
Contents
5
Airboaters Choose Their Own Fate
By Jerry Renney
7
Surveillance-Based Hydrilla Management in the
Upper Ocklawaha River Basin, Florida
By Kelly Crew, W. Godwin, E. Cotsenmoyer, M. Coveney, E. Lowe,
J. Stenberg, R. Conrow, and J. Peterson
12 Andy L. Price
13 Water Hyacinth Bio-Control Released
St. Johns River, Florida
By Barry Vorse
Shorts
Aquavine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
FAPMS News . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
To become a member of FAPMS and receive Aquatics magazine, please visit the website at: www.fapms.org
The mission of FAPMS is “To Preserve Florida’s Aquatic Heritage.” FAPMS was formed in 1976 and provides a forum
for those interested in aquatic plant management to meet, discuss and exchange ideas and information.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Aquatics (ISSN 1054-1799) is published as
the official publication of the Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society.
The Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society has not tested any of the products advertised or referred to in this publication, nor
have they verified any of the statements made in any of the advertisements or articles. The Society does not warrant, expressly or
implied, the fitness of any product advertised or the suitability of any advice or statements contained herein.
Winter 2010
Board of Directors
Third Year
Steve Montgomery
Allstate Resource Management
6900 SW 21st Court, Bldg. #9, Davie, FL 33317
954-382-9766, 954-382-9770 fax
[email protected]
Dharmen Setaram
SePro Corporation
13180 Lakeshore Grove Dr, Winter Garden, FL 34787
407-687-4997
407-574-4566 fax
[email protected]
Don Doggett
Lee County Hyacinth Control Dist
P.O. Box 60005, Ft Myers, FL 33906
239-694-2174, [email protected]
Second Year
Ed Harris
FWC Invasive Plant Management
5882 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando, Fl 32822
407-275-4004 (office), 321-229-8353 (mobile)
158*41*550 (Nextel) , [email protected]
James Boggs Jr.
Helena Cemical
P.O Box 1758, Dade City, FL 33526
352-521-3538, [email protected]
James Godfrey
St. Johns River Water Mgmt.
Invasive Plant Technician, Palatka, FL
386-937-0566, 386-227-0890 cell, [email protected]
First Year
James McLaughlin
Habitat & Species Conservation
3900 Drane Field Rd., Lakeland, FL 33811
863-648-3206 , [email protected]
Karen Brown
UF-IFAS Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants
7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32653
352-273-3667, [email protected]
Jeremy Crossland
USACE Biologist
701 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville FL 32207
904-571-5410, [email protected]
Aquatics | 3
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Committee Chairs
Aquatics Magazine Advertising
Angie Huebner
US Army Corps of Engineers Invasive Plant Mgmt.
701 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207-8175
Office - 904-232-1067, Fax - 904-232-3696
[email protected]
Auditing
Keshav Setaram
SFWMD St. Cloud Field Station
3800 Old Canoe Creek Road, St. Cloud, FL. 34769
[email protected]
Awards
Scott Glasscock
Disney Pest Management
220 S Service Lane, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
[email protected]
By-Laws
Stephanie McCarty
Walt Disney World Company
Environmental Affairs Division
P.O. Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
407-824-7279, [email protected]
Editorial
Tina Bond
Red River Specialties, Inc.
P.O. Box 1454, Davenport, FL 33836
407-808-2035, 318-226-6187 fax, [email protected]
Governmental Affairs
Jeff Schardt
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Invasive Plant Management, Tallahassee, FL
850-245-2815, 850-519-0257, [email protected]
Historical
John Gardner
Aquatic Systems Inc.
2100 NW 33rd Street, Pompano Beach, FL, 33069-1035
(954)977-7736, [email protected]
Local Arrangements
Bill Torres
NWFWMD
2252 Killearn Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32309
850-921-5861, 850-921-3082 fax, [email protected]
Membership & Publicity
Jerry Renney
Applied Aquatic Management
P.O. Box 1469, Eagle Lake, FL 33839-1469
863-533-8882, 863-534-3322 fax, [email protected]
Merchandise
Steve Montgomery
Allstate Resource Management
6900 SW 21st Court, Bldg. #9, Davie, FL 33317
954-382-9766, 954-382-9770 fax
[email protected]
Nominating
Mike Bodle, SFWMD
561-248-4032, [email protected]
Program
Mike Hulon
Texas Aquatic Harvesting
P.O. Box 4034, , Lake Wales, FL 33859
863-696-7200 & 696-7205, 863-696-2922
[email protected]
Resource Demonstration
John A. Evertsen
City of Orlando, Streets and Stormwater
1030 South Woods Avenue, Orlando, FL 32805
407-246-2083 , 407-246-4050 fax
[email protected]
Scholarship
Don Doggett
Lee County Hyacinth Control District
P.O. Box 60005, Ft Myers, FL 33906
239-694-2174, [email protected]
Vendor
Melissa Barron
Syngenta
664 Hempstead Ave, Orlando, FL 32803
407-257-8043, [email protected]
Web Site
Angie Huebner
US Army Corps of Engineers Invasive Plant Mgmt.
701 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207-8175
Office - 904-232-1067, Fax - 904-232-3696
[email protected]
Winter 2010
Photo by Keith Mangus
Airboaters Choose
Their Own Fate
By Jerry Renney
Applied Aquatic Management and
FAPMS President-Elect
Some time last year I was fortunate
enough as a board member of FAPMS to
have a first hand opportunity to review the
entries for the new society logos. In doing so
the prominence of airboat propellers in many
of the artist’s designs stood out to me. This
reminded me that aquatic work in Florida is
often synonymous with airboats.
Sometimes it seems as if many of us are
in the business just to operate the vessel.
Performing our actual tasks and duties are
secondary, although we would never actually
tell anyone. We complain and grumble just
enough in front of our supervisors to make
them believe each daylight excursion on the
water is actually work. “Darn! Not another
sunrise on a beautiful river in Florida.” Or
“I’m so tired of looking at deer on this foggy
littoral shelf. This stinks.”
Increasing Restrictions
This is a delicate subject and I broach it
Aquatics | 5
tentatively. I have made the statement that
the Aquatics industry is somewhat tied
to airboats, and therefore, to the airboat
industry. Well, the airboat industry could
use some help. Currently the state of Florida
has approximately thirty airboat restrictive
laws or ordinances. These range from area
specific closures, to curfews, to outright
bans on the vessels. You have probably read
about these actions in recent years since the
number has been steadily growing as the state
becomes more populated and airboat-noise
complaints become more common. Airboat
enthusiasts and manufacturers have rallied to
stop the demise of recreational airboating by
policing their own, providing public outreach
programs, and ultimately supporting legal
battles for the airboat industry.
Fortunately for our industry, most of
the airboat restrictions have exemptions
for aquatic weed control operations. For
example, in Polk County, airboats are not
allowed to launch from the public ramps
at Lake Rosalie or Lake Pierce. However,
due to the vegetation management requirements for these water bodies, airboats are
often the best tools; and plant managers
of these systems remain exempt from the
county ordinance.
6 | Aquatics So why do I bring this issue to the attention of the aquatics industry if we are exempt
and it is seemingly of no concern to us? There
are two reasons: one explains why we should
be concerned and the other is an example of
what we can do to help.
Why Be Concerned?
The airboat industry is basically a small
family of builders, fabricators and businessmen. Regardless of who you use for your
airboat service it is likely they know everyone
else in the business on a first name basis. They
do the work because they love it, and their
success relies primarily upon recreational
airboat users purchasing their products.
Commercial or government rigs are often
extras in their annual sales. If these businesses
fail, where do aquatic applicators go for
their airboats? It may be true that if there is
a market there will always be a supply, but at
what cost? Will these manufacturers remain
solvent and their equipment affordable
without the recreational market?
Consideration Helps
Airboating closures mentioned above
were a result of rude or obnoxious behavior
at the affected boat ramps in close proximity
to residential homes. So here is the sticky
part: many of us power load our boats as
we have always done because it is the easiest
way or because we were taught this way. I
have even read some government airboat
operation instructional manuals that specify
power loading. It is a benefit that we are
exempted from airboat restrictions, but as
one of your colleagues I would hesitantly
remind you that nothing can exempt us from
rude behavior. I think most boat trailers
come with winches and they should work,
so we may have to use them occasionally.
In addition, we should always be mindful
of our airboat operation in the presence of
the public, not just at boat ramps.
I hope this does not sound too preachy
and instead only reminds each of us to
consider our actions not solely as applicators
but as airboat operators. I also hope I have
successfully shown the relationship between
the two industries. Whether we see it or not,
the public just sees one thing…an airboater.
Let’s try to do our part to better their opinion.
Jerry Renney works for Applied Aquatic
Management and is FAPMS President-Elect –
[email protected]
Volume 32 | Number 2

Surveillance-Based Hydrilla
Management in the Upper
Ocklawaha River Basin, Florida
By Kelly Crew1, W. Godwin2, E. Cotsenmoyer3, M. Coveney2, E. Lowe2,
J. Stenberg2, R. Conrow2, and J. Peterson2
Introduction
Reducing the spread of hydrilla (Hydrilla
verticillata) in the Upper Ocklawaha River
Basin (UORB) in central Florida is integral
to achieving restoration goals for lakes in the
basin, which form the primary headwaters
for the Ocklawaha River (Figure 1). UORB
lakes are high priority water bodies under the
St. Johns River Water Management District’s
(SJRWMD) Surface Water Improvement
and Management (SWIM) program. The
SJRWMD and partners have made substantial
investments in watershed restoration at Lakes
Apopka and Griffin since the early 1990s, and
water quality is improving (Coveney et al.
2005, Godwin et al. 2010). In anticipation
of increased water clarity from these efforts,
SJRWMD joined Lake County Mosquito and
Aquatic Plant Management (LCMAPM) and
the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP) in a surveillance-based,
early detection/rapid response management
program for hydrilla in the UORB.
The goal of surveillance-based management is to treat hydrilla early and often, thus
avoiding expensive large-scale herbicide
applications. FDEP adopted this approach for
hydrilla from the United States Army Corps
of Engineers (USACE) program for nuisance
water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes; Schardt
1994; Miller et al. 2000). Joyce (1985)
found that maintaining water hyacinth at
the lowest feasible levels reduced herbicide
use, sediment accretion, and the formation
of anoxic conditions caused by shading and
plant decomposition. A later study found that
controlling hydrilla before it formed a canopy
significantly reduced the amount of organic
sediment produced, as well as the number and
total weight of its reproductive tubers ( Joyce
et al. 1992).
Although arguments have been made
for allowing hydrilla coverage to expand for
Winter 2010
Figure 1. Upper Ocklawaha River Basin lakes
Aquatics | 7
Table 1. Morphometric characteristics of UORB lakes*, mean Secchi depths and total area treated between 2000 and 2008. Stage is the
water elevation (NGVD 1929) at which volume was calculated.
Lake
Apopka
Beauclair
Dora
Eustis
Griffin
Harris
Yale
Stage
(m)
20.2
19.2
19.2
19.2
18.1
19.3
18.0
Volume
(ha-m)
19,900
900
5,322
10,861
9,144
27,681
6,069
Surface Area
(ha)
12,465
439
1,774
3,139
3,810
7,563
1,627
Mean Depth
(m)
1.6
2.1
3.0
3.5
2.4
3.7
3.7
Secchi
(m)
0.31
0.33
0.33
0.59
0.44
0.61
0.74
Area of Treated
Hydrilla (ha)
156.5
6.2
1.1
137.4
243
133.8
3.4
*Lake Apopka morphometry from Hoge et al. (2003); other lakes from Fulton et al. (2004)
fisheries development (Murphy et al. 2006),
managing its rapid growth at high coverages
could be difficult and expensive (Miller et
al. 2000, Coveney et al. 2006). Because
UORB lakes are generally shallow (Table
1) and eutrophic, they provide an ideal
habitat for the spread of hydrilla. Within two
years, hydrilla expanded from 1% to 73%
coverage in Lake Yale (Hestand et al. 1994).
Using a surveillance-based maintenance
control program in the UORB offered the
best management strategy for minimizing
water quality problems, impacts to native
vegetation and overall costs.
Surveillance-based management was first
implemented in the UORB (excluding Lake
Apopka) by LCMAPM and FDEP in 1990.
SJRWMD extended the program to Lake
Apopka in 1995 and intensified hydrilla
surveillance in the Harris Chain of Lakes
in 2002. We describe here the methods and
results of this hydrilla management program
in the UORB since 2000. Further details
about surveillance-based management can
be found in Crew et al. (2010).
Facts and Figures
Figure 2. Area of hydrilla treatment in Lake Eustis and mean annual Secchi depth from
2000 to 2008.
Surveillance and Treatment
Methodology
SJRWMD, LCMAPM and a contractor
performed visual inspections weekly to
monthly by circling the lake perimeter in
a boat to locate new patches of hydrilla.
A sonar unit on an airboat also was used
to detect deeper growing hydrilla in Lake
Apopka, but successful detection with sonar
usually depended on the absence of other
submersed plants, water levels greater than
0.9 m, and partially consolidated bottom
sediments. Hydrilla also was identified
during submerged aquatic vegetation
(SAV) surveys, quarterly aerial surveys,
8 | Aquatics Figure 3. Area of hydrilla treatment in Lake Griffin and mean annual Secchi depth from
2000 to 2008.
Volume 32 | Number 2
Figure 4. Area of hydrilla treatment in Lake Harris and mean annual Secchi depth from
2000 to 2008.
Figure 5. Annual area of treated hydrilla vs. mean annual Secchi depth during 2000-2008
in Lakes Eustis, Griffin, Harris and Apopka. Data for Lake Apopka are tabulated by fiscal
year (October-September).
Figure 6. Area of hydrilla treatment in Lake Apopka and mean annual Secchi depth.
Treated area and Secchi depth are tabulated by fiscal year (October-September).
Winter 2010
or other routine lake work. When hydrilla
was identified, its location and extent were
recorded and a contact herbicide was applied
soon after, usually within a two-week period.
Endothall-based herbicides typically were
used, and these were applied at the recommended label rates.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) currently funds
hydrilla management in the UORB (formerly
FDEP’s responsibility). The FWC also performs annual surveillance on UORB lakes for
native and exotic aquatic plants. Coverages
for exotic plants are determined yearly, while
coverages of native aquatic plants are determined approximately every five years. Lakes
are surveyed more frequently if expansion of
exotic plants is a concern.
Management History
Lakes Eustis, Griffin, and Harris
During the 1980s, Lakes Harris and
Griffin had more than 70% surface coverage
of hydrilla. Whole-lake fluridone treatments
were conducted by aircraft in 1987 at a
cost of over $1.7 million (Cotsenmoyer,
unpublished data, 2007). Minimal or no
hydrilla was observed in Lakes Eustis, Griffin, and Harris during the 1990s. Hydrilla
spread rapidly, however, after a significant
drought during 2000 to 2002 (Figures 2-4).
Water levels decreased by up to one meter in
some lakes, increasing bottom illuminance
and enabling hydrilla to expand rapidly.
When water levels rose in 2002, hydrilla
grew faster than competing native species,
increasing its coverage.
Water levels stabilized in late 2002, but
water clarity, as measured by Secchi disc,
increased, enabling hydrilla to spread further.
Between 2002 and 2004, the total annual
area of hydrilla treatment in Lakes Eustis,
Griffin, and Harris increased from 7 to 177
ha (Figures 2-4).
Substantial decreases in water clarity
were observed in Lakes Eustis and Griffin
after hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne
crossed central Florida in the fall of 2004.
Parts of the UORB received over 50 cm of
rain in August and September and experienced winds over 100 km h-1. Hydrilla coverage in Lakes Eustis and Griffin subsequently
decreased in 2005 (Figures 2-3).
Between 2006 and 2007, the area of
treated hydrilla decreased 81% in Lake Harris
and 97% in Lake Eustis, but increased 75% in
Lake Griffin. Most new patches in Lake Griffin were located in canals on the northwest
shore of the lake, which were dredged in
Aquatics | 9
Table 2. Hydrilla treated in Lake Apopka by fiscal year 2002-03 to 2007-08 (fiscal year is October-September). Man-hours reflect the time
spent searching for hydrilla, as well as treatment time.
Fiscal Year
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
Yearly Average
2007. Hydrilla that was present in the canals
likely was fragmented by dredging activities,
thus multiplying the number of plant propagules available for establishment in the lake.
A cleared substrate also might have enabled
the spread of hydrilla in the canals.
The total cumulative area of treated
hydrilla between 2000 and 2008 in the
UORB was 682 ha (Table 1). Relative to each
lake’s surface area, hydrilla never exceeded
2.2% coverage. Herbicide applications were
performed throughout the year on each lake,
but the largest areas were usually treated
between March and October. A significant
(p≤0.10) positive relationship was observed
between the area of treated hydrilla and Secchi transparency for Lakes Eustis (r2=0.58,
p=0.017), Harris (r2=0.82, p=0.001), and
Griffin (r2=0.39, p=0.073) (Figure 5). These
relationships suggest that hydrilla control in
UORB lakes may require more resources as
lake restoration improves water clarity.
During the period of surveillance-based
management of hydrilla on Lake Griffin,
the percentage of native species making up
SAV patches has increased. In 2003, hydrilla
accounted for approximately 50% of the
SAV patches observed in surveys. In 2009,
native eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) and
Illinois pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis)
accounted for 82% and 16% of the SAV
patches, respectively. This shift in species
assemblage indicates that hydrilla has been
controlled without harming native plant
populations.
Lake Apopka
Hydrilla coverage was minimal in Lake
Apopka prior to 2001. Surveillance was
suspended between 2001 and 2002 because
most of the areas that normally had SAV were
dry and colonized with terrestrial plants.
10 | Aquatics Hectares Treated
2.3
21.6
33.0
74.1
22.2
3.3
26.0
Man Hours
104
366
587
422
499
207
364
Endothall (kg)
129
801
1307
3343
903
108
1098
Table 3. Estimated annual costs of whole-lake treatments and average annual costs
of surveillance management on Lakes Apopka, Harris, Griffin and Eustis (2002-2008).
Surveillance management costs include both surveillance and treatment. Lake Apopka
costs were tabulated by fiscal year.
Lake
Estimated Annual Cost for
Whole-Lake Treatment* ($)
Average Annual Cost of
Surveillance Management
(2002-2008)
46,200
243,700
107,900
Apopka
Harris
Griffin
333,300
500,000
166,700
Eustis
190,000
146,000
1,190,000
543,800
Total
*Cost estimates based on Hoyer et al. (2005) and Coveney et al. (2006)
The majority of treatment occurred during
September 2005 through October 2006
(Figure 6, Table 2). Water clarity declined
in 2006, likely due to decreased lake volume
and greater internal nutrient cycling at
the onset of another drought. Since 2000,
SJRWMD has treated approximately 157 ha
of hydrilla in Lake Apopka with liquid and
granular endothall.
At its highest coverage, hydrilla in Lake
Apopka occupied approximately 0.6% of the
lake’s surface area. Unlike Lakes Eustis and
Harris, Secchi depth in Lake Apopka was
not significantly (r2=0.24, p=0.32) related
to the area of treated hydrilla (Figure 5).
During the period of treatment, increases in
native SAV were observed in Lake Apopka.
Eelgrass increased in coverage from 11,200
m2 in 1998 to 55,200 m2 in 2007.
Treatment Costs
Surveillance-based management costs
are largely associated with the labor and
herbicides required for frequent monitoring
and treatments. For a financial comparison
of management methods on these lakes, we
estimated the cost of whole-lake treatments
using 10 ppb fluridone. It was assumed
that, with improving water quality trends,
hydrilla typically would require whole-lake
treatments every three years; thus the
estimated cost for one whole-lake treatment
was divided by three to obtain an annual cost
(Table 3).
The average annual cost of surveillancebased management on Lakes Apopka,
Harris, Griffin and Eustis, combined, from
2002 to 2008 was $543,800 compared to
an estimated annual cost of $1,190,000 for
whole-lake treatments (Table 3). On Lake
Apopka, one whole-lake treatment every
three years would have an annualized cost
of approximately $333,300 (Coveney et al.
2006). The average annual cost for surveillance-based management on Lake Apopka
between 2002 and 2008 was $46,200. These
Volume 32 | Number 2
estimated costs for whole-lake treatments
are probably low because treatments might
be needed more frequently than every
three years or might require a substantially
higher fluridone concentration to overcome
resistance. Whole-lake treatments on Lake
Istokpoga were conducted every other year,
but were increased to every year because
of the quick recovery by fluridone resistant
hydrilla (Hoyer et al. 2005).
Summary
Surveillance-based management has
effectively controlled hydrilla in UORB
lakes. Between 2000 (fiscal year 2002-03
for Lake Apopka) and 2008, annual hydrilla
coverage did not exceed 2.2% of surface area
in any UORB lake with surveillance-based
management. The cost of surveillance-based
management was approximately one-half
the predicted annualized cost of whole-lake
treatments. Because the treated area and
Secchi depth were positively correlated,
invasive plant management staff can anticipate
performing hydrilla surveillance and treatment more frequently when water clarity
increases. A surveillance-based maintenance
control program in UORB lakes offered the
best management strategy for minimizing
water quality problems, impacts to native
vegetation and overall costs.
Hestand, R.S., B.Z. Thompson, and C.T. Mallison.
1994. Effects of triploid grass carp and Sonar
treatments on aquatic plants in Lake Yale.
Grass Carp Symposium, March 7-9, 1994,
Gainesville, FL.
Hoge, V.R., R. Conrow, D.L. Sites, M.F. Coveney,
E.R. Marzolf, E.F. Lowe, and L.E. Battoe. 2003.
SWIM Plan for Lake Apopka, FL. St. Johns
River Water Management District, Palatka,
Florida.
Hoyer, M.V., M.D. Netherland, M.S. Allen, and
D.E. Canfield, Jr. 2005. Hydrilla Management
in Florida: A Summary and Discussion of
Issues Identified by Professionals with Future
Management Recommendations. Hydrilla
Issues Workshop. Gainesville, FL.
Joyce, J.C. 1985. Benefits of maintenance control of
water hyacinth. Aquatics 7(4): 11-13.
Joyce, J.C., K.A. Langeland, T.D. Van and V.V.
Vandiver, Jr. 1992. Organic sedimentation
associated with hydrilla management. Journal
of Aquatic Plant Management 30: 20-23.
Miller, S.J., M.A. Lee, D. Girardin, S.R. Miller, W.
Corbin, M. Lasi, J. Marburger, and A. Alhouse.
2000. Management plan for the control of
nuisance plants on lands owned by the St. Johns
River Water Management District. Special
Publication SJ2000-SP3. St. Johns River Water
Management District, Palatka, Florida.
Murphy, S., M. Hoyer, and D. Canfield, Jr. 2006.
Editorial, Restoring sport fishing at Lake
Apopka. Aquatics 28(1): 3, 17-20.
Schardt, J.D. 1994. History and development of
Florida’s aquatic plant management program.
In An assessment of invasive non-indigenous
species in Florida’s public lands. Edited by D.C.
Schmitz and T.C. Brown. Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, Tallahassee, Florida.
BCI Engineers and Scientists, Inc. 4049 Reid
Street, Palatka, FL 32177, [email protected]
(386) 312-2318
2
St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049
Reid Street, Palatka, FL 32177
3
Lake County Mosquito and Aquatic Plant Management, Tavares, FL 32778
1
For mailing address changes for Aquatics,
contact:
Jennifer Myers
Applied Aquatic Management, Inc.
P.O. Box 1469
Eagle Lake, FL 33839-1469
863-533-8882
[email protected]
Works Cited
Coveney M.F., E.F. Lowe, L.E. Battoe, E.R. Marzolf,
and R. Conrow. 2005. Response of a eutrophic,
shallow subtropical lake to reduced nutrient
loading. Freshwater Biology 50: 1718–1730
(and Erratum, Freshwater Biology 50: 2167).
Coveney, M.F., E.F. Lowe, E.R. Marzolf, R. Conrow,
and L.E. Battoe. 2006. Response to Editorial:
Restoring Sport Fishing at Lake Apopka. Aquatics 28(4): 16-19.
Crew, K., S. White, E. Cotsenmoyer, W. Godwin, R.
Conrow, J. Stenberg, M. Coveney, J. Peterson,
and N. Visscher. 2010. Hydrilla management
of selected lakes in the Ocklawaha River Basin.
Special Publication SJ2010-SP3. St. Johns River
Water Management District, Palatka, Florida.
Fulton, R.S. III, C. Schulter, T.A. Keller, S. Nagid,
W. Godwin, D. Smith, D. Clapp, A. Karama, and
J. Richmond. 2004. Pollutant Load Reduction
Goals for Seven Major Lakes in the Upper
Ocklawaha River Basin. Technical Publication
SJ2004-5. St. Johns River Water Management
District, Palatka, Florida.
Godwin, W.F., R.S. Fulton III, and B.R. Sparks.
2010. Water quality changes following nutrient
loading reduction and biomanipulation in Lake
Griffin. Abstract. Florida Lake Management
Society Conference, Crystal River, FL, June
14-17, 2010.
Winter 2010
Alachua, FL
386-462-4157
Belle Glade, FL
561-996-6200
Boynton Beach, FL
561-585-2221
Dade City, FL
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Aquatics | 11
In Memory of
Andy L. Price
November 16, 1930 – May 18, 2010
It is with much sadness that we say
good-bye to Andy Price. Andy passed
away doing the work he loved on May
18, 2010. After delivering two airboats
with spray rigs in South Florida for his
company, Vegetation Management Consultants, he died suddenly of heart failure.
Andy grew up in South Carolina, and
graduated from Clemson University with
a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural
Science.
His work history in aquatic plant
management includes:
• 10 years with Pennwalt Corporation
• 20 years with Asgrow Florida and
Terra
• 10 years with Orange County
• 5 years as owner and President of
Vegetation Management Consultants.
Andy was a charter member of
FAPMS, and very dedicated to the profession of aquatic plant management. He
Bo Burns
National Sales Director
919-605-8016
[email protected]
was very outspoken, and always willing to
help. He served FAPMS in many capacities
including:
• 1977 to 1980 as FAPMS BBQ cook
when we grilled our own chicken for
the banquet portion of the program.
He was a “darn good chef.”
• Board of Directors 1982-1983
• Chair of Local Arrangements
Committee – 1984
• Chair of By-Laws Committee – 1990
• Program moderator and projector
operator many times before the advent
of computers
• Recipient of Best Applicator Paper
Award and Presidential Award in 1999.
At the 2006 FAPMS Annual Meeting
Andy was awarded Honorary Lifetime
Membership for “providing extraordinary
support and assistance toward accomplishing
the goals and objectives of the society.” He
will truly be missed.
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12 | Aquatics Volume 32 | Number 2
Water Hyacinth
Bio-Control Released
St. Johns River,
Florida
Photos by Jasmine Chopra.
By Barry Vorse
Jacksonville District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
PALATKA, Fla. – A tiny insect about
the size of a flea may be one of the keys to
suppressing an invasive aquatic plant that has
often choked Florida’s navigable waters over
the past 100 years.
Officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the
St. Johns River Water Management District,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
gathered May 18 at the Edgefield Recreation
Site just north of this Florida town to release
Megamelus scutellaris, a South American
planthopper, onto the invasive plant, water
hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes).
Rainey noted that after the release of
water hyacinth into the wild, Congress enacted the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation
Act of 1899. The act addressed a number of
navigation issues and authorized the Corps to
control the water hyacinth and other aquatic
plants in navigable channels.
Hyacinth Research Expertise
“From that beginning, the Jacksonville
District has gone on to become a center
of expertise for the control of this type of
vegetation,” he said. “And we have been
treating it ever since. You may recall how the
St. Johns looked in the sixties and seventies
South American
planthopper,
Megamelus
scutellaris
when it was sometimes rare to see open water
on the river in downtown Jacksonville. Over
the years we have gotten better at how we
approached this problem.”
“This is an important day in our work,”
said Dr. Phil Tipping, a top research entomologist with the U.S. Department
of Agricultural Research Service in Fort
Lauderdale, who brought thousands of
the insects to the event. “I hope we can
all convene here in four years to see how
successful this effort has been. That’s when
we’ll really know.”
Tipping planned to spread thousands
more Megamelus in the days after the event
Plant-Specific Insect
Perhaps best described as a miniature
grasshopper the size of a flea, the insect has
been studied by the USDA for the past five
years. It eats only the water hyacinth, meaning it is “plant specific,” which is a federal
requirement of any insect imported to the
U.S. to control invasive plants.
“Where we held the ceremony is no more
than five miles away from where the first
water hyacinth was introduced by farmers
in the early 1800s,” said Jacksonville District
Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Nathaniel
Rainey. “This effort was most certainly a
collaborative effort by the four agencies
involved. We all have mandates to control
aquatic plants and have been deeply involved
for many years.”
Winter 2010
Aquatics | 13
Editor’s Note

As the new editor for Aquatics Magazine, I would
like to take a moment to thank Jeff Holland for his
dedication and hard work for the past 6 years as editor.
Jeff handed over the “torch” to myself and Karen Brown,
Associate Editor, at the annual FAPMS meeting back in
October. I hope that Karen and I can continue to deliver
the types of articles that are cutting edge and informative, but also entertaining. If you have any articles or
other information you would like to submit, please send
me an email at [email protected]. I’ll be happy to
help. Remember, this is your magazine and with your
contributions and assistance, we can continue to keep
you up to date on the latest aquatic plant management
techniques, industry news and provide the best magazine for the aquatics industry.
Thank you - Tina Bond
in a water storage area near farm
fields around the Putnam/St.
Johns County line. Thousands
more of the insects will probably
be released within the coming
weeks.
“I am so glad to see young
people in attendance,” Tipping
said, referring to about 30 Interlachen High School students.
“We are doing this so they, the
future generations, can enjoy
areas such as the Edgefield site.”
FWC Financed
The release at the site was
primarily financed by the FWC,
which prov ided more than
$300,000 for the project. Don
Schmitz, a research program
manager in the FWC’s Invasive
Plant Management Section,
praised Tipping.
“Phil and his people really
made this happen,” Schmitz said.
“They put extra effort into completing all of the research needed
before introducing a bio-control
into an ecosystem in record time.”
Special attendees on hand
for the event were Mary E. Murphy and Lynn A. Hoffman, who
donated the property for the
Edgefield Recreation Site to the
state of Florida in 2001.
“We are so happy to see things
like today’s ceremony happen on
the property,” said Ms. Murphy.
“We donated the property, which
had been in my family since 1860,
so that wonderful things like this
could be done for the environment. And it was so good to see
the teenagers out here learning
about nature.”
14 | Aquatics Damage caused by the South American planthopper on water hyacinth.
Lt. Col. Nathaniel Rainey and a student from Interlachen High School release South American planthoppers
into the river.
Volume 32 | Number 2
Aquatic Pest Control
by Kenneth A. Langeland and Frederick M. Fishel
Aquavine
Great quotes from years ago:
From Aquatic Vegetation Problems in the Northwest Region
by Jerry Krummrich (Annual Report, Florida Game and
Freshwater Fish Commission, 1975):
“By July the bladderwort occupied waters 0-8 feet over
50% of the lake’s surface, including virtually all the littoral
zone, thus causing botanists to marvel and fishermen to
swear.”
From A Comparison of Various Methods for the Control
of Florida Elodea in Orange County, Florida by R.H. Guppy
(Hyacinth Control Journal Vol. 6 1967):
“A small sickle bar type mower was attached to the bow
of a “john” boat for cutting. A rake was used to remove the
vegetation. A 3-acre area was cleaned. We did not have to wait
long for evaluation of the method; it was like shaving for the
first time – the whiskers really grew. So we discarded mowing.”
Newly revised and expanded edition – SM3. This is the exam
preparation and general reference manual for commercial or public
applicators seeking certification and licensure to apply pesticides for
aquatic plant control in Florida. The book includes information on the
history of aquatic plant management in Florida; rules and regulations
of aquatic plant management;
herbicide technology; adjuvants in aquatic plant manageAquatic
ment; equipment selection
by Kenneth A. Langeland
and Frederick M. Fishel
Pest Control
and methods of application;
non-herbicide control methods; environmental and public
health considerations and
aquatic plant identification.
116 pp.
Price: $15.00
SM 3
The manual is available
from the UF/IFAS Extension
Bookstore by calling 800-2261764, e-mail [email protected],
or online at http://ifasbooks.
ifas.ufl.edu/
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Aquatics | 15
FAPMS News
2010 FAPMS Meeting Highlights
Applicator of the Year
Applicator Team of the Year
Congratulations to the Polk County
Invasive Plant Management Team: Jason
Woodard, Bryan Finder, Keith Smith, Lee
Singleton, Craig Johnson, Donny Mills, and
Phillip Stephens.
To learn more about these awards or to
nominate an individual or a team for the 2011
Award, go to www.fapms.org and click on
Conference – Manager of the Year.
FAPMS Scholarship Foundation
Presidential Awards
FAPMS past presidents and members of the
FAPMS Scholarship Foundation. Top row, l-r:
Vicky Pontius, Mike Bodle, Mike Hulon, PJ
Myers, Keshav Setaram, Joe Joyce, Steve
Weinsier, Brian Nelson, Jeff Schardt, Dan
Thayer, Jim Brewer. Bottom row, l-r: Don
Doggett, Mike Netherland, Eddie Knight,
Bill Haller, Dave Tarver, Bill Moore, Francois
Laroche.
The FAPMS Scholarship Foundation
was established by the Board of Directors of
the Society and is administered by the Board
of Directors of the FAPMS Scholarship and
Research Foundation, Inc. Since 1986 – 25
years – the foundation has provided over
$25,000 in scholarships.
Dear All,
For the Foundation’s Silver Anniversary,
fundraising reached a new high. Receipts
from the Duck Race, Silent Auction, the sale
of raffle tickets at the 2010 annual meeting,
and the annual membership contribution
totaled just over $10,000. The delegates
and sponsors for the 2010 annual meeting
were very generous with their support and
it is greatly appreciated. These dollars will
be converted to scholarships to assist our
membership. The current officers of the
Foundation, besides myself, are: Keshav
Setaram, Vice-President; Joe Joyce, Sec./
Treas.; P.J. Myers, Mike Netherland, and Steve
Weinsier, Directors at Large.
The Foundation members, who include
all Past-Presidents of FAPMS, were wellrepresented at the 2010 Annual Meeting as
nineteen were present to help celebrate our
twenty-fifth year.
Donald W. Doggett
President
16 | Aquatics James Godfrey, SJRWMD – 2010 Applicator of
the Year
The Applicator of the Year Award was
designed to provide a means to recognize
outstanding achievements and to enhance
professionalism in aquatic plant management
activities in Florida. James Godfrey of the
SJRWMD was selected as Applicator of the
Year at the FAPMS 2010 Training Conference
from among several other nominees, all of
whom shared active FAPMS membership and
several years of experience in aquatic plant
management. Some of the criteria suggested
for nomination are weed control experience,
weed identification, good public relations
skills, work consistency and ingenuity. James
fulfilled these criteria and, in addition, is
cross-trained in wild land firefighting and
Hazmat courses. He has readily volunteered
to assist researchers with Experimental Use
Permit (EUP) herbicide research trials. He
also takes time to educate the public when
asked to explain management goals at field
sites. Congratulations, James!
The President’s Award was presented to
Jeff Holland “In recognition of several years
of leadership as Editor of Aquatics Magazine
for the Florida Aquatic Plant Management
Society.” Thank you, Jeff! – and – to Theresia
Cluts “In recognition of years of support
graciously provided to the Florida Aquatic
Plant Management Society.” Theresia is very
helpful and always smiling at the registration table.
Jeff Holland (right)
Theresia Cluts (below)
Where else but at FAPMS do you win a muzzle loader, a shotgun, or gift cards for rubber duck
races? Winners from left to right: Tim Harris, John Farrell, Ernie Watson, and Steve Weinsier.
Volume 32 | Number 2
Outgoing directors (left to right): Dan Bergeson,
Jerry Renney (President Elect), Stephanie
McCarty, and Mike Bodle
Incoming president Dr. Vernon Vandiver
presents a plaque to outgoing president Mike
Bodle.
CALL FOR PAPERS
FAPMS 2011 MEETING
St. Augustine, Florida
The 35th annual FAPMS Training
Conference will be held at the World Golf
Village in St. Augustine, FL from Monday,
October 10th through Thursday, October
13th, 2011. Presentations will begin on
Tuesday October 11 th. The Society is
seeking presentations on topics including
herbicide application and mechanical
techniques (aquatic and right-of-way), tank
mixtures, biological control, innovative
control methods, revegetation projects, new
weed introductions and research projects.
Applicators/Field Personnel: FAPMS
was formed for the applicator and the annual
training conference is a chance to share what
you have learned with other members. You
don’t need to be a professional speaker
to present a paper! All applicators/field
personnel who present a paper will receive
a plaque from the Society. Field applicators
presenting the top three papers receive a
plaque and a cash award. First place will
receive $300, second place will receive $200,
and third place will receive $100.
NOTE: Deadline for submission is
July 31st, 2011. Go to www.fapms.org and
click on Conference – Call for Papers to
submit your idea for a presentation.
For questions, contact Mike Hulon:
[email protected]
Winter 2010
Applicator paper presenters (l to r): Dave Midgette, Aquatic Vegetation Control Inc.,
3rd Place; James Schultz, Lake Worth Drainage District, 1st Place; Brian Machiela,
Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc.; Steve Weinsier accepting for Spencer Winepol, 2nd
Place, Allstate Resource Management. To Every Presenter at the 2010 FAPMS Annual Meeting in Daytona,
On behalf of the entire membership of the FAPMS Society we would like to
say “Thank You” for the great job you did at last year’s meeting. The FAPMS annual
meeting could not take place without your support and we truly enjoyed each
presentation. All knowledge gained at the meeting allows us to improve our work
in the aquatics field and use that knowledge on a daily basis. We hope to see you
again at the October 2011 meeting in St. Augustine.
– The FAPMS Society Paul C. Myers Applicator Dependent Scholarship
The Florida Aquatic Plant Management Society Scholarship and Research Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce the availability of the Paul C. Myers Applicator Dependent
Scholarship, providing up to $1,500 to deserving dependents of FAPMS members. Award
of the scholarship is based on the following:
• The applicant’s parent or guardian having been a FAPMS member in good
standing for at least three consecutive years.
• Financial need: determined based on need and the expected family contribution
amount indicated on the processing results of a Student Aid Report (OMB
No. 1845-0008). This report is available by completing a Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) federal form (https://fafsa.ed.gov).
• The applicant being a high school senior entering college in the next academic
year, attending junior college, or being a college undergraduate.
• An evaluation of the quality of the application and the required essay by the
Scholarship Selection Committee composed of three FAPMS members and
four FAPMS Scholarship and Research Foundation members.
• Submission of a completed application by June 1, 2011.
For more information or application forms, please contact Don Doggett at
239-694-2174, [email protected], or visit the Society’s website at www.fapms.
org and click on Scholarship.
Aquatics | 17
IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE!
Attention Advertisers: We are
considering a business advertisement
section in the magazine for smaller
businesses and services. To provide
feedback or place an ad, please
contact the Aquatics Magazine
Advertising Point of Contact.
Calendar
May 3-5, 2011
Aquatic Weed Control Short Course
University of Florida-IFAS
Coral Springs Marriott Hotel
Coral Springs, FL
http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/aw
May 17-20, 2011
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
Sheraton North Hotel
Maitland, FL, www.fleppc.org
June 13-16, 2011
Florida Lake Management Society
22nd Annual Conference
Discovering the St. Johns River: A River
of Lakes
St. Johns County Convention Center
St. Augustine, Florida, http://flms.net/
July 24-27, 2011
Aquatic Plant Management Society
51st Annual Meeting
Hyatt Regency Baltimore on the Inner
Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland
www.apms.org
August 17-19, 2011
South Carolina Aquatic Plant
Management Society
Clyde V. Madren Conference Center
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina
www.scapms.org
• Aquatics is circulated to approximately
2000 environmental managers, landscape
managers, governmental resource
managers, and commercial applicators.
• Aquatics is a resource for the people who
buy and use aquatic products and services.
• Compared to other magazines, advertising in
Aquatics is a profitable investment.
• Your advertisement not only provides the
reader pertinent information, but your support
helps maintain the quality of this publication.
18 | Aquatics Oct 10-13, 2011
Florida Aquatic Plant Management
Society
Aquatics Magazine
Advertising Point of
Contact
Angie L. Huebner
7922 NW 71st Street
Gainesville, FL 32653
Telephone: 904-894-3648
Fax: 352-392-3462
35th Annual Training Conference
World Golf Village, St. Augustine, FL
www.fapms.org
Oct 26-28, 2011
North American Lake Management
Society
31st NALMS Symposium
Spokane, WA
www.nalms.org
Volume 32 | Number 2
Too Many
Weeds Spoil
the Fishing
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